Tree World - View Single Post - conventional figure-8

quercus · 6th January 2008, 01:39 AM

The major problem with fisherman's knots and figure 8 knots is if they become loaded it can be difficult to untie. You could try a double loop figure 8 to counter that a little bit...This double loop knot also doubles up on safety. I'll post pics if you don't know the knot and how to tie it. Very simple

You can load a bowline with a 100.000 pound load sort of speak, and still it's easy to untie. When practicing this knot you should be able to tie that knot correctly, behind your back while talking to your girlfriend about whatever issue you may have and watch the telli at the same time, because it is one of the most VALUABLE AND IMPORTANT knots in tree-care... I'm serious about this.... also learn to put the safety on automatically, this means that you must always tie a single figure of 8 or a stopper knot in the free end of the line, wich must be at least 1.50 feet of length (with the figure of 8 already tied in)... Like Jayd said that's your life insurance and the knot is simply not complete without it. Bowlines tend to run through a bit, especially when the load comes on and off regularly.

A WORD OF ADVICE...

the knowledge of knots and hitches is not to be taken lightly!! You must master them and be able to tie them without thinking or seeing... Why? Because when you're starting out as a climber ,climbing may seem difficult and you'll be very tired after a short period of time. Not only phisically tired but mentally as well. That's exactly the time when catastrophic failure occurs during tying of knots. Go low and slow when you're trying something new, and always gently test-load your knot before releasing your other tie-in. I kept a six feet long rope of 4 mm in my pocket for about two years. It gives you the opportunity to practice your knots everywhere when you're bored or get stuck in traffic or something like that. Steering wheels and gear shifters are nice when practicing rigging knots actually. Just don't tie 'em together as I did in a traffic jam once.... AND ALWAYS REMEMBER :Trees and gravity have their own special way of dealing with over-confident climbers...

6th January 2008, 01:39 AM	#6 (permalink)
quercus Mature tree Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: belgium Posts: 424	Re: conventional figure-8 The major problem with fisherman's knots and figure 8 knots is if they become loaded it can be difficult to untie. You could try a double loop figure 8 to counter that a little bit...This double loop knot also doubles up on safety. I'll post pics if you don't know the knot and how to tie it. Very simple You can load a bowline with a 100.000 pound load sort of speak, and still it's easy to untie. When practicing this knot you should be able to tie that knot correctly, behind your back while talking to your girlfriend about whatever issue you may have and watch the telli at the same time, because it is one of the most VALUABLE AND IMPORTANT knots in tree-care... I'm serious about this.... also learn to put the safety on automatically, this means that you must always tie a single figure of 8 or a stopper knot in the free end of the line, wich must be at least 1.50 feet of length (with the figure of 8 already tied in)... Like Jayd said that's your life insurance and the knot is simply not complete without it. Bowlines tend to run through a bit, especially when the load comes on and off regularly. A WORD OF ADVICE... the knowledge of knots and hitches is not to be taken lightly!! You must master them and be able to tie them without thinking or seeing... Why? Because when you're starting out as a climber ,climbing may seem difficult and you'll be very tired after a short period of time. Not only phisically tired but mentally as well. That's exactly the time when catastrophic failure occurs during tying of knots. Go low and slow when you're trying something new, and always gently test-load your knot before releasing your other tie-in. I kept a six feet long rope of 4 mm in my pocket for about two years. It gives you the opportunity to practice your knots everywhere when you're bored or get stuck in traffic or something like that. Steering wheels and gear shifters are nice when practicing rigging knots actually. Just don't tie 'em together as I did in a traffic jam once.... AND ALWAYS REMEMBER :Trees and gravity have their own special way of dealing with over-confident climbers...